Srimad Bhagavatam — Chaturtha Skandha, Shloka 5

Nārada Instructs Prācīnabarhiṣat: The Purañjana Narrative Begins

City of Nine Gates

Devanagari script

राजोवाच न जानामि महाभाग परं कर्मापविद्धधी: । ब्रूहि मे विमलं ज्ञानं येन मुच्येय कर्मभि: ॥ ५ ॥

Transliteration

rājovāca na jānāmi mahā-bhāga paraṁ karmāpaviddha-dhīḥ brūhi me vimalaṁ jñānaṁ yena mucyeya karmabhiḥ

Translation

The King replied: O great soul, Nārada, my intelligence is entangled in fruitive activities; therefore I do not know the ultimate goal of life. Kindly instruct me in pure knowledge so that I can get out of the entanglement of fruitive activities.

Synonyms

• rājā: the king
• rājā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle (निषेध-अव्यय)

• jānāmi: I know
• jānāmi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: jñā (धातु)
• Form: Present tense (लट्), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 1st person (उत्तमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• mahā-bhāga: O greatly fortunate one
• mahā-bhāga: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + bhāga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular (एकवचन); कर्मधारय (mahān bhāgaḥ)

• param: supreme; highest
• param: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• karma: duty; action
• karma: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: karman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• apaviddha-dhīḥ: whose intellect is deluded/obscured
• apaviddha-dhīḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: apaviddha (कृदन्त; apa+vidh/vid? as PPP) + dhī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); बहुव्रीहि—yasya dhīḥ apaviddhā (one whose understanding is cast off/obscured)

• brūhi: tell (me)
• brūhi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: brū (धातु)
• Form: Imperative (लोट्), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 2nd person (मध्यमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• me: to me; for me
• me: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: Pronoun (सर्वनाम), Genitive/Dative enclitic (षष्ठी/चतुर्थी), Singular (एकवचन)

• vimalam: pure; spotless
• vimalam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vimala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• jñānam: knowledge
• jñānam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jñāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• yena: by which
• yena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: Relative pronoun (यद्-), Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• mucyeya: I may be freed
• mucyeya: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: muc (धातु)
• Form: Optative (विधिलिङ्), Passive voice (कर्मणि), 1st person (उत्तमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• karmabhiḥ: from/by (my) actions; by karmas
• karmabhiḥ: Hetu/Karaṇa (हेतु/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: karman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

Purport

Śrī Narottama dāsa Ṭhākura has sung:

Characters & Entities

• King Purañjana
• Avadhūta (the great sage addressed as mahābhāga)

FAQs

How does the Srimad Bhagavatam describe liberation from karma?

This verse states that freedom from karmic bondage comes through receiving “vimala-jñāna” (pure, spotless knowledge) that clears the intelligence obscured by fruitive action.

Why does King Purañjana ask for pure knowledge (vimala jñāna)?

He admits his understanding is clouded by karma-driven life and therefore requests the Avadhūta to instruct him in the higher truth that leads to liberation.

What is a practical way to apply ‘vimala jñāna’ in modern life?

Shift from action motivated by personal gain to spiritual inquiry and devotional hearing—seeking guidance from genuine sādhus and studying Bhagavata wisdom to purify one’s intentions.